BY PETE MOHR | APRIL 13, 2011
Baseball, Softball double-shaft Prospectors, April 8
Gals (H), 11 - A.J., 4; Guys (A), 12 - A.J., 5
CSHS – “And down the stretch they come!” No, not Mayor Vince Francia’s thoroughbred racehorses at Turf Paradise, but Head Coach Danica Gianni’s 8-2 Lady Falcons (#9 in latest A.I.A. Power Rankings) and Head Coach Spencer Grace’s 6-5 Baseball ‘Birds (#15-ranked) making their respective “stretch runs” toward the 4A-I State Playoffs.
On May 8, behind the pitching/hitting of Camille McIver and the home run power of Gracie Goulder (her 7th, plus a double), the LadyBirds treated the visiting Lady Prospectors to an 11-4 long bus ride back to Apache Junction (A.J.). The Ladies are looking ahead to four more-than-winnable games in a row (J.L. Combs (A), April 12; Campo Verde (A), April 14; A.J. (A), April 15; and Poston Butte (H), April 19) before ending their regular season: at Queen Creek (April 21), home vs. Saguaro (April 26) and hitting the road to McClintock (April 28). “We’d sure like to win Region!,” Coach Gianni proclaimed to Sonoran News. This writer is betting on the LadyBirds.
Meanwhile at A.J., also April 8, the Baseball Guys got an OK start from sophomore Jake Colombo, solid catching by Connor Sabanosh and four strong innings by winning pitcher Joey Ford, backed by five home runs from John Leonard (2), Max Patterson, Scott Freeman and Sean O’Grady to hang a 12-5 loss on the Prospectors.
No, your schedule is accurate: the ‘Birds will play their next three games at home – all 7 p.m. first pitches: Combs (April 12), Campo Verde (April 14) and A.J. (April 15). Then the NightBirds travel to Poston Butte on the April 19. Falcons should win all four – and need to.
Coach Grace to Sonoran News: “Our regular season-ending games, Queen Creek (H), April 21, at Saguaro, April 26, and home against McClintock on the 28th, will give us three very competitive games to get ready for State.” For both the Q-Creek and Mac home games, 7 p.m. first pitches.
“NIGHTBIRDS”: at April 11 practice under the lights (back, l-r) starter at “A.J.” Jake Colombo, catcher Connor Sabanosh, winning pitcher Joey Ford; (front, l-r) home run hitters John Leonard (2), Max Patterson, Scott Freeman, Sean O’Grady.
Photo By Pete Mohr
BY PETE MOHR | APRIL 13, 2011
Cheer’s five-member Stunt Team brings home first national title!
CSHS - On Feb.5, 2011 at Tim’s Toyota Center, Prescott Valley, Head Spirit Line Coach Rika Cuff’s Competition Cheer squad captured their sixth consecutive State Championship, becoming the centerpiece for winning the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s 2010-2011 Spirit Line State Championship – and they already have their sights set on No. 7!
You’d think their championship performance would’ve earned them a little “R&R”, right? W-r-o-n-g! Some three weeks later, they were at Orlando’s Disneyworld competing in Universal Cheerleading Association’s National Championships. It wasn’t to be the Ladies’ weekend; but that didn’t stop them from heading west to Disneyland for United Spirit Association’s Cheerleading Championships.
On Sunday, March 27, Cheer’s five-member Stunt Team, vying against 70+ competitors, made the “cut” to 10 finalists – and then proceeded to win the National Championship! Their victory represents the first national title for Cactus Shadows Cheer.
Congratulations, Coach Cuff and Ladies! Frosh, Soph and Junior cheerleaders: enjoy one more month off. Tryouts for 2011-2012 are scheduled to begin May 9. Details to follow in Sonoran News.
CSHS Cheer’s Stunt Group National Champions! (L-r): Coach Cuff, Breana Baker (JR), Shae Lowry (SO), Cierra Stewart (SR), Brittany Nagy (SR) and Brooke Cuff (FR). Courtesy Photo/Timon Harper Photography
